Focus Archive > Page 5
Inclusive Dining Tech: The New Must Have for Foodservice
Inclusive dining technology is quickly shifting from optional to essential, as operators lean on accessible design to serve a wider range of guests with fewer friction points. The payoff is empowered diners.
Sports Stars Join Forces to Elevate Hawaiian Volcanic Water Brand
Pro athletes from the NFL, NBA, and MLB are backing Waiākea, betting on a purpose-driven water brand focused on sustainability. The sports stars’ investment underscores the growing power of mission aligned partnerships in the F&B industry.
CES Unveils Food’s Next Frontier, from Air Made Water to AI Chefs
CES roared back to full strength in 2026, and food focused innovators stole a surprising share of the spotlight with breakthroughs in water tech, AI powered cooking, and experiential retail. For brands watching the future of food and beverage, a handful of standout exhibitors offered a glimpse of where consumer expectations are headed.
Davos: Greenland Framework Announced, EU Considers ‘Trade Bazooka’
Tensions flared at the World Economic Forum, as the U.S. pushed a Greenland framework and the EU weighed its “trade bazooka,” putting a $2T transatlantic trade relationship on edge. Food industry leaders should brace for ripple effects as potential tariffs threaten to reshape global supply chains.
Extravagant Cocktails Take Over 2026 as Bars Go Big on Experience
Cocktails are entering their maximalist era, with bars embracing chef driven techniques, purposeful garnishes, and tiny pours that turn drinks into full sensory experiences. This year expect umami rich creations, amaro riffs, and endlessly reimagined martinis.
Gen Z Eats Differently – What This Means for Restaurants
Gen Z is reshaping restaurant strategy with digital-first connection, solo dining, and a hunger for immersive, social media-ready experiences. Operators that deliver storytelling, sensory “food moments,” and premium non-alcoholic options are most likely to win over the young cohort.
Dole Reveals the Boldest Food Trends of 2026, From Guava to ‘Girl Dinner’
Dole’s new FRUIT FWD report spotlights 2026’s biggest shifts, from a surge in tropical flavor demand to consumers replacing meals with snack centric “on the go” eating. With wellness, mocktails, and affordable indulgence all rising, the data points to clear innovation lanes for brands ready to move fast.
6 Ways AI Will Impact Restaurants in 2026
AI is shifting from pilot projects to full scale deployment in restaurants, reshaping everything from kitchen workflows and pricing to fraud prevention. As automation ramps up, operators gain efficiency – and space to refocus on culture.
6 Trends You Need to Know from Winter FancyFaire
The 2026 Winter FancyFaire spotlighted a wave of genre-bending innovation, from collagen packed “beauty drinks” to Asian-inspired comfort mashups. Wellness shots, playful chocolates, and global better-for-you brands largely stole the show.
With Trump’s Support, the Credit Card Competition Act Has Legs
President Trump’s backing may help usher the Credit Card Competition Act through Congress and the House of Representatives. Banks warn it could gut rewards programs, but food retailers see long‑overdue relief.
Platinum Performance: Roma®, at 70, on Building a Legendary Brand
Roma’s evolution reflects the challenges and opportunities of the U.S. pizza industry, offering insights into brand strategy, product consistency, and long-term foodservice impact.
State of the Consumer: Loyalty Means Nothing
Guac Gets Gamified, Avocado Imports Surge Ahead of Super Bowl
Mexican avocado imports are set to smash records ahead of the 2026 Super Bowl, signaling strong supply-chain confidence and sustained U.S. demand. Avocados From Mexico is pairing that momentum with an AI-powered fan experience designed to drive even more guac consumption.
3 Key Takeaways from NRF 2026 – Retail’s Big Show
Retail’s biggest show, NRF 2026, signaled a reset, with economists forecasting steadier growth as AI, health-forward innovation, and omnichannel discipline reshape how food retailers compete. Leaders left aligned on one theme: 2026 belongs to operators who cut friction, elevate fresh, and deploy tech with purpose.
AI, Automation Dominate F&B Innovations at CES 2026
From autonomous convenience stores to robotic baristas and ingredient traceability platforms, CES 2026 highlighted how automation and AI are moving deeper into food, retail, and supply chain operations.
Food Leaders Eye Workforce Fallout as US Blocks Visas From 75 Countries
A sweeping U.S. visa freeze across 75 countries signals deeper turbulence in global labor mobility. Food and beverage leaders may face fresh uncertainty as immigration scrutiny tightens and long term workforce pipelines grow less predictable.
Double Trouble: Cheese, Chocolate Recalls Expanded Due to Deadly Risk
Two major recalls – Salmonella‑linked chocolate bars and Listeria‑tainted cheeses – are putting food safety back in the spotlight. With Class I risks in play, brands are reminded how quickly routine testing can become a reputational stress test.
Bigger, Bolder Menu Revamps: Foodservice Gets a Facelift
Foodservice chains are charging into 2026 with bold menu revamps that tap breakfast demand, nostalgia, and the protein boom to spark traffic and repeat visits. From Dutch Bros to Chick-fil-A to Shake Shack, operators are leaning hard into trend-driven innovation to stay competitive.
See the Coffee Chain Building a Next Gen Drive Thru Empire
Dutch Bros is rewriting the coffee playbook with tiny, hyper efficient drive thru huts built for speed and Gen Z friendly indulgence. Its rise signals that the next big coffee chain may look more like an energy drink competitor than a café.
Teetotaling, Tea Drinking on the Rise as Dry January Participation Surges
Dry January has inspired a cultural reset, with consumers swapping booze for tea, soda, and other NA options. Health, cost‑cutting, and medication‑assisted moderation are accelerating the shift, creating fresh whitespace for beverage innovators.
Target’s Wellness Push Stokes War With Whole Foods
Target is muscling into Whole Foods territory with a major wellness expansion, betting that value priced “better for you” goods can revive slipping sales. But with Walmart and Amazon escalating their own health pushes, the retailer’s path to growth remains anything but simple.
AI-Enabled Robotics: A Solution for the Food Manufacturing Labor Crisis
The food manufacturing industry’s most pressing challenges—labor shortages and high turnover, inconsistent quality, food giveaway, and constrained throughput—now have a proven solution. Chef Robotics has developed AI-enabled robots for meal assembly to flexibly automate production …
State of the Consumer: Health, Always
Health and wellness are top of mind as consumers consider their food and beverage purchases.
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2026 Pizza Playbook: Quality Beats Speed, Mid-Sized Chains Bring the Heat
Mid‑sized pizza chains are gaining ground as consumers prioritize hot, high‑quality pizza over sheer delivery speed. With giants slowing and carryout times rising, operational discipline is becoming the new competitive edge.
New Food Pyramid Sends Shockwaves Through F&B, Pressures Processors
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s flipped food pyramid champions whole foods and fuller fat proteins, but nutrition experts warn the shift could spike chronic disease risks. The shake-up also raises big implications for producers, as federal guidance realigns around less processing.
2026 Bound to be Better for Food Investors
Food companies limped through a bruising 2025 as CPG giants, grocers, and fast casual chains saw valuations crumble under weak demand and structural headwinds. Yet, recent weeks hint at selective rebounds, rewarding the players best positioned to execute in a more fragmented market.
Western Canada Shatters Crop Records as Innovation Outpaces Climate Stress
Canadian farmers enjoyed record harvests recently, despite floods, drought, and extreme heat, thanks to high tech farming and advanced seed genetics. As climate volatility accelerates, northern growers expect similarly bountiful harvests in the future.
Produce Powerhouse: Broccolini Named 2026 Vegetable of the Year
Health-driven consumer habits are shaping produce trends, with broccolini selected as the 2026 Vegetable of the Year and sweet potatoes earning a spot as the honorable mention. FullTilt Marketing also identified the kabocha squash and endive as vegetables to watch this year.
McRib or McFib? How McDonald’s Limited-Time Sandwich Sparked a Lawsuit
The well-publicized lawsuit that claims McDonald’s misleads consumers with the McRib’s name has sparked debate over transparency in QSR marketing. While legal impact may be minimal, experts say perception risks could force tighter messaging and PR control.
Sign of the Times: Fast-Food Chains Bet Big on Digital Displays
Digital signage is becoming core QSR infrastructure, boosting ticket sizes, reducing decision fatigue, and strengthening guest trust through real time updates. Operators leveraging dynamic menus and time sensitive promos are benefitting.
AI Assistants, ‘Zebra Striping’ Set the Tone in 2026 for Restaurants
AI-powered personalization, shifting health behaviors, and cost pressures are impacting restaurant strategies in 2026. Operators eye takeout growth and rising non alcoholic demand as key levers for expansion.
New Minimum Wage Hikes to Impact Millions of American Workers
Minimum wage hikes that took effect Jan. 1 will boost pay for more than 8 million workers, but economists warn they may squeeze employment. Operators are bracing with pricing adjustments and selective automation to offset rising labor costs.
Built to Trace: Why Food Manufacturers Need Integrated Visibility from Ingredient to Invoice
iTradeNetwork examines how integrated traceability is reshaping food manufacturing by strengthening data accuracy, accelerating issue resolution, and supporting stronger customer confidence across the supply chain.
TikTok Is the New Food R&D Lab – And It’s Moving Lightning Fast
TikTok has become the fastest-moving food R&D engine, turning creator-born trends into menu items and CPG products at unprecedented speed. Brands that prototype quickly, leverage LTOs, and collaborate with creators are capturing outsized upside.
